Ortho commentary on California Podiatric “Physicians and Surgeons”

[NatCh]

http://www.amjorthopedics.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=k6JBf2C2haI=

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[feet2017]

This is just a pre-pods opinion, but I think APMA/CPMA is asking for a little too much when there isn't even a unified scope throughout the USA

 

[G0dFather]

Natch, what are you thoughts on this? So far it seems like they are progressing since the announcement came out last year.

 

[dyk343]

I wish we could stop running around saying we should be equivalent to primary care physicians. It's embarrassing. We're not. I really do not care if some of us took biochemistry and all the other pre-clincial sciences with osteopathic students. We are foot and ankle specialists with enough knowledge to function on an internal medicine team but never enough to run an internal medicine department.

How many internal medicine months will you complete by the time you are done? How many podiatry rotations will you complete by the time you are done?

How many podiatry rotations will MD/DO complete by the time they are done? How many medicine rotations will they complete by the time they are done?

That's why we know the foot/ankle the way we do. Thats why MD/DO understand internal medicine the way they do.

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

I wish we could stop running around saying we should be equivalent to primary care physicians. It's embarrassing. We're not. I really do not care if some of us took biochemistry and all the other pre-clincial sciences with osteopathic students. We are foot and ankle specialists with enough knowledge to function on an internal medicine team but never enough to run an internal medicine department.

How many internal medicine months will you complete by the time you are done? How many podiatry rotations will you complete by the time you are done?

How many podiatry rotations will MD/DO complete by the time they are done? How many medicine rotations will they complete by the time they are done?

That's why we know the foot/ankle the way we do. Thats why MD/DO understand internal medicine the way they do.

 

[robopod97]

You are right on point. We spend so much time, $ and energy on this stuff while we should be increasing our applicant pool, holding our colleges accountable and creating quality residency programs. So much for priorities.

 

[dyk343]

I just re-read what I wrote and want to state that my original message sounded harsh, and that I wasn't pointing fingers at anyone (Natch or Ankle breaker) but just the topic in general. I hear a lot of my classmates say that we should be equals in terms of knowledge of internal medicine... but in reality its simply not true and it kinda drives me nuts.

When rotating on internal medicine. I was able to hold my own and contribute positively to the group, but the MD students knew far more about internal medicine than me. Interestingly, I seemed to know antibiotics much better than they did though. And when it came to the lower extremity? They felt pulses and checked for edema and really nothing else. So I was able to teach them a thing or two as well. It was one of my favorite months so far as it was such a challenge.

 

[dtrack22]

I think the biggest thing to take from this editorial is the obvious attitude shift. Its an opinion that is hopefully more representative of the orthopedic community as a whole than it has been in the past.

Not too long ago, some of the ortho leadership was actively rallying their members against podiatry. Citing a lack of education/training and therefore competency, largely in order to protect their docs and their turf. The 180 degree about face seen is a positive IMO, even if you think measures like a degree change are pointless. For the record, I would be one of those people.

The CA initiatives are, however, unique due to the physician and surgeon certificate handed out and recognized by the state. It's not as much of a profession wide degree change proposal as it is a single state licensing issue.